Snowpiercer - Left or Right 

Snowpiercer: Left or Right Parasite: Down or Up

Oh my god, Snowpiercer is a side-scroller!

people sure do like to tell Keanu that there's no turning back

hearing great examples of visual alternatives to cheap dialogue is seriously inspirational for me as a filmmaker!

how did you start to collect those qoutes "theres no turning back" like what method?

Now that he's retired from MCU, I hope Chris works in projects like this again

there's also the whole thing of Curtis and everyone else in the film looking forward or backwards along the train but only one person (the druged out asian door opener) realizes that the best course of action is to look to the side meaning outside the train the entire movie and everyone in It is consumed by forward or backward front of the train or back of the train and only one guy is like fuck the train all together

SPOILERS - I love Bong Joon-Ho, but Snowpiercer doesn't really compare to his other films. I enjoyed it overall, but parts of it were really cheesy and convenient. The ability to see through walls kinda bugged me, especially when it served no real purpose until it was used as a plot device for the climax of the movie. Also, why does the train need to be in motion? Half of the conflict for the movie is because the train is moving, but is there any real reason why the train can't keep them alive as it's stationary? There's no safer way to collect water from the infinite amount of ice outside? 6/10 movie for me. Above average, but not spectacular. I appreciate your keen eye for shot composition and valued what you had to say in this video regardless. Sorry I kind of derailed this conversation into my review of the movie. Get it? Derailed? Anyone? I'll go home now...

Whoa. I never noticed the whole right vs left thing in Snowpiercer. I wonder if my subconscious did.

I love how instead of saying "spoiler alert" he begins by saying "There is no turning back" then proceeding to a discussion about snowpiercer and the choices of "left / right" or "back / forward"

It's easy...........On your left ;)

I love you, I seriously love you. You're now my favourite RU-vidr. I watched Snowpiercer for the first time only a few days ago, it may not be MoM or The Host, but it's a Bong Joon-ho film and I've always found him to be a visual genius.

Had to stop, that moment when "click" "it's empty!" Gets me Pumped every Time.

This movie definitely has it's holes but visually and conceptually is honestly great and quite different from the regular dystopian future crap we get often

Snowpiercer is a true underrated gem. I love the psychology of the camera to see what the actor's decisions will bring

Oh, man. Now I have to watch Snowpiercer again. That movie was awesome, but I didn't catch the left/right thing at all. I also fell asleep through the dramatic climax right at the end (it was the end of a 16-hour work day and I didn't think I'd make it 15 minutes in, let alone 95%). Great short video. I love all your stuff, Tony. Please keep making videos!

I almost never say this because it sounds pretentious as fuck, but most of the people who say snowpiercer sucks didn't get it. If you're complaining about the logic regarding the train you completely missed the point

Great video, Tony. I agree with you. It's the classic 'show don't tell' idea and it seems simple, but so many filmmakers rely on dialogue to get their ideas across, completely ignoring how visual a medium film is. These are the simple choices that really make great directors like Bong Joon-Ho stand out in the crowd. And since we're on the topic of SNOWPIERCER, which I loved. I think we need to talk about the production design of this film which is some of the best I've seen all year. Journeying through this train was a fascinating experience in and of itself, each individual carriage serving as spectacle and a unique reflection of our culture. It's certainly not a perfect film, but it's an ambitious one, and a flawed but ultimately fascinating film is far more interesting than a lot of our current blockbusters. And it really served as a reminder of how in need we are of more weirdness and absurdity in our blockbusters as well.

Also of note (spoiler warning): the arm Curtis tried to cut off was his right arm, yet the one he lost was his left. Now, with the default right-to-left orientation of the train, if Curtis is facing the camera, then the arm he tried to cut off is on our left, towards the back of the train, while the one he loses is towards the front of it.

All these years later. Still the best video essay channel out there.

Snowpiercer was awesome. The concept was brilliant.

I really enjoyed Snowpiercer but I really want to watch the directors cut, shame they didnt release that in the UK.

Great video. I'm glad this video is put out there. Being a film maker, I find it annoying when I see thousands of hate comments on films just because that audience doesn't understand the message. All they want is to be spoon-fed with dialogue to tell a story. I hope that this video will clarify to those who don't quite understand film that sometimes, action speaks louder than words.

Just watched His latest movie parasite and in the end at the party there is also a scene like that where a character must chose between left (helping) or right(killing). I immediately was remembered of this video. Best Film channel ever. I hope you start making videos again one day.

You do Korean subtitle????!!!!!!! G----------------reat!!!!! I don't know why your videos have such a small number of views.... You're the best!

I wish more filmmakers would remember that it's a visual medium first and foremost. I think, using dialogue to express things that could've been expressed with silence or camera direction or whatever, is quite a waste. Of course it depends on the use of dialogue. QT is my fave filmmaker and his films are packed with dialogue obviously.

I rewatched Frozen the other day and they do the same thing to show the choice at the climax. Obvious spoiler: Anna looks to her right to see Hans holding a crossbow at her sister, and the camera pans left to show her other priority, Kristoff, running towards her. Really short use of it, but effective.

I'm so happy today because I just watched Snowpiercer yesterday and the next morning there is a new Every Frame a Painting video about it!! xD Tony, can you tell us what movie you're going to do next so we can prepare?

I've watched a couple of videos now, pointing out some positive things about Bong's directing, and I agree with all of them. However I think generally speaking, this movie is just a mess. It's a pretty weak allegory (if you can even call it that, with the almost literal depiction of how society functions) because it's constantly overshadowed by action that is too ridiculous to be taken seriously. I actually found some of the acting (mostly chris evans) to be insufferable, and completely unrelateable. Did anyone else feel like Chris Evans being cast in the lead role was some sort of Hollywood heartthrob casting quota fulfillment? The first thing I thought right after watching it is that maybe the script was brutally edited by someone who wanted to put in more action scenes to make it a blockbuster. but who the fuck knows lol. There were whole action scenes that could have easily been removed without changing jackshit about the story progression. Anywho, let's take 1984. The story tells roughly the same message. However, one can actually think about it and take it in, because there's nothing to question about the structure of the society presented, aka no glaring plot holes. It makes sense. It's just thoroughly thought out and focuses on what needs to be focused on. The amount of plot holes and implausibilities in snowpiercer basically murdered it for me.

The Goofy Movie is the best! :)

Great breaking down of storytelling and directional moral choices. Thanks, you a making appreciate movies just that much more.

Snowpiercer: Left or Right Parasite: Up or Down

Every Frame a Painting Yo, it's been 4 months since your last video, we need you man!

That was a great analysis on visual storytelling, you made me want to watch Snowpiercer again...and by the end of the video you made me want to watch Pulp Fiction again!

These are the best videos on the internet

I'm not sure why this movie bugged me but it did. It started out promising but petered out. It was sometime shortly after the "axe men" car that I lost interest. I think it's because at that point it started becoming too on the nose about its commentary and it got too silly (the school car, the sushi car, the rave car, pretty much everything). The first 3 cars were enjoyable as challenges for the characters to progress forward like a side scroller video game, with any kind of commentary mostly in the background (the shoe on head speech, finding the protein gel processors). After that there weren't really any challenges (the psycho #2 henchman was too much like a slasher movie villain) and the commentary was too obvious. It was like a videogame with 3 hours of awesome gameplay, then 5 hours of nothing but cutscenes.

Every time your videos come out...its like christmas for filmmakers and film guru's everywhere.

Please make a patreon so we can fund your life and you can just make cool videos all day about things I've never realized in movies before

Snowpiercer is overrated.

check out this snowpiercer analysis on how the film potentially speaks beyon class struggle and deals with capitalism! it gives a greater insight to the film. als check out "nerdwriter1" 's video analysis on this film www.jacobinmag.com/2014/07/smash-the-engine/

Just came out of Parasite. There was a shot near the end that reminded me of this video.

why did it take me so long to find this channel? Thank you so much!

Snowpiercer was the best train movie of 2014.

damn that's super subtle but awesome

snowpiercer is a masterpiece.

I love your videos so much, so glad i found about your channel once you released the Edgar Wright on visual comedy video. If there were more of these i'd be able to watch them all day every day. Although i understand that making videos like these isn't a simple process and takes a lot of work, time and motivation, so i'm always patiently waiting for more. Thank you.

Vader's tuning his head at the end of Return of the Jedi is also great at showing how conflicted he is and that he has to make a decision there, and it works even though we do not even get to see the face of the actor, but all we have is the mask.

This video just showed me how beautiful Chris evan’s side profile is

Idk if this is relevant or right... But if I remember he was 34. He was 17 when he got on the, meaning he spent 17 years on the train. Could that mean his character is half humanity before the train and half on the train?

-Train is the system that we live in - the people who are forced to live in train and not allowed to go out by fear of death is the same as we are told outside of our earth there is no life - police/soldiers are the ones who protects the rich but their death is also counts as part of the 74% percent..they have privileges but they are easily disposable. - the system is not that powerful, it intimidates people by fear as there was no bullet in the guns. - the rich people wouldnt mind the anarchy or chaos (as the curtis and group passes them nobody even cares) until the point where it will threat their wealth (as they attack when the girl wanted to blow the train) - the system will not change even though the leaders will be replaced... it needs to be destroyed

Wow i never thought about that, thanks for opening my eyes.

The strange mix of savagery and elegance, the weird sets, eccentric characters and the mysterious genius inventor gave the movie a strong bioshock vibe

I was kinda hoping the movie was good since you chose to do a video on it. But actually it's one of the 5 worst I have seen in my life. Bad sound, hollow characters, gimmick plot, overstylized lighting to the point where you can see barely anything. Average story with terrible ending. Does not make you think. Just tells us what we already know about how societies work. Spoiler: Everyone but 2 people die, and the last two will probably die within a week. Production design was pretty good though.

1:11 an on is always SO heartbreaking and even more when you have seen Curtis' confession in the end...

I couldn't get past the first 30 mins of Snowpiercer. That woman was too cartoony, and there's a line of dialogue that just made me laugh out loud to the point where I couldn't take the film seriously. There's also a sequence that should have been an awesome action moment that I rewound 4 times, but not because it was awesome, because it was too shaky and I wanted to understand what the fuck just happened. Maybe I'll give it another go sometime. IDK.

great video, came here from YMS recommending your channel. this makes me think of the left or right moment in Mission Impossible 5 when he thinks about which assissin to shoot, but there was actually a third choice, he first shifts from one target to the other and finally ends up shooting the intended victim instead. really good scene and one of my favorites :) but thats just me.

I love how you ended it with /that/ pulp fiction scene.

This is a *KOREAN* movie that was based on a *FRENCH* comic and starred *AMERICAN* actors.......you got all that?

Having not seen it, I debated for a while about watching this. Finally, I decided I probably would never watch it, so screw it.So, of course, after having watched the video, I kind-of actually want to see the movie now :P

I continually learn more from Tony Zhou than I ever did from any film professor. You're pointing out things that I've never considered, maybe viscerally but never consciously--you're making me a better filmmaker video after video.

Great stuff man. As someone who loves analysis of pop culture, but knows little about film, I love how you break down these things that I never paid any attention to before hand. Keep 'em coming!

I hated the ending of this movie. It seemed pointless. Yea the 2 kids survived the crash but they were born on the train and certainly wouldnt survive outside of it anyway.

Just walk straight. U don’t have to choose left or right cuz either way ur still selfish in some form but if u make ur own choice ur not choosing anyone.

In addition, Curtis is trapped in the train because all his choices are left or right / front or back, but the Koreans have a completely different approach, to breakout. This is another thing I like with the film's language. That it presents us a choice to move forward or back, but shows us a third choice, showing in its own language, that the train is the world for the ones trapped in there and that being trapped at all is a choice. Anyway, I think you have the best art/cinema channel in all of the interwebz.

0:59 one of my fave scenes in the film.

I absolutely loved this film. It's a shame it flew under the radar for the general population

RELEASE MORE GOD DAMNED VIDEOS TONY I CAN ONLY REWATCH YOUR SHIT FOR SO LONG!!!!!!! PLEASE

What makes dialog a weaker or cheaper method of storytelling?

It's a neat visual effect they did there, yes. I'm afraid I didn't notice it while I was watching the movie, as my mind was busy noticing a bunch of other inconsistencies in the plot and their universe that just grew more impossible to reconcile as it went on... I'm all for far-out science fiction, but even the basic character development didn't make sense to me. The choice he made in the end makes no sense and without any doubt whatsoever humanity went extinct within the next two days. I just can't suspend my disbelief THAT much.

Funny how the youtube video progress bar is also going right.

Have to say, this is my favorite youtube channel, can't wait for more videos!

I hated Snowpiercer so much I left after 25 minutes. This was due to bad acting (Swinton not withstanding), really bad dialogue and ludicrous dramatics, but most of all because in the interior scenes there was no sense of being in a fast moving vehicle. Hence, there was no sense of urgency and a strong sense of bad film making.

Just unbelievably ingenious symbolism!!! Oh man, he's such an excellent director and story-teller!

we miss u

Damn, snowpiercer is one of those movies that I keep learning something new about it every time I'm on RU-vid

Too bad it wasn't all that good a movie!

such a straight-forward observation reveals incredible depth and subtlety! A++ with extra consideration given for editing.

You *slacked* off too much on this review. Just saying....

I like Snowpiercer, it is far better than the majority of blockbusters out there today, however, I will say it is incredibly flawed! Just watch it and figure it out.

I've been learning a lot about screenplays, imagery and direction from your videos. I once tweeted you, and requested if you could do a piece on Wes Anderson. I hope, you read this comment, and respond even if you are willing to discard my idea.

don't really get this episode...

So robocop and Captain America died.

God spoils the whole movie. And not even a spoiler warning...

I've not enjoyed the movie at all. I ve found it to be anticlimatic (big pompous "shoe" dialogue like 10 minutes in was already overreaching, but I could make other examples), videogameish (both in form and content) generic marxism of the worst kind (all the poor people are moral saints, just victims of the circumstances, all the rich people are selfish assholes and literally satan... umm ok, even if it's a childish way to vieqw the world, can we move on onto some sort of developing of your view or at least some interesting concept without pushing over onto that for like the first 80+ minutes?). The fights are mounted in a meh way - first movie where I don't perceive Chris Evans as an extremely dangerous fighter, but that could be me, I've just felt confusion during the big battles. But this is a minutia, the main issue I have with this is I don't feel like my moral sense has been pushed for these two hours. Same used and abused points, generic characters that fall in generic situations, twisting once again on the omnipresent theme of class fights that I've already immersed myself in the vast majority of books and movies that have been made won't engage me into these charaters. A big movie (to me) is one that pushes the discourse forward by presenting polarising situations, and "DO YOU WANT TO KILL THE CHILDREN AND BECOME A GREEDY CAPITALIST, MR HERO?" is simply not engaging enough to elicit an emotive response. Having said all this, you made me genuinely appreciate a nonverbal motive of a movie I've not enjoyed, so I just wanted to say thank you!

Loved that movie.

This is why I love movies. I’ve come to acquire a great appreciation for the art found in books, movies, shows, and even music. I think you did a wonderful job of presenting this side of Snowpiercer, without rambling on. In fact, I wasn’t even aware of that dynamic. Even though it seems so obvious now. I know that this is a comment coming from a years old video, but the algorithm brought me here and I thought it necessary to share my thoughts.

the new show has nothing of this..... sad

It didn't spoil it for me lol. Because of this, I finally watched the movie yesterday!

I have 2 words to say about Snowpiercer: Track maintenance

The movie is pretty overrated.

I hate decision making

Darth Vader stands in the Emperor's throne room, his son to the left, and the emperor to the right! Great video.

Thumbs up just for the Goofy Movie reference alone.

4년전 영상이 갑자기? ㅋ

The movie was okay, but *way* too many unrealistic moments. Totally took me out of the experience.

Could you do Birdman? Pretty please :D

Go left , don't be fooled by the right

Amazing insights on all levels...thank you.

Glad I saw this. I felt like Snowpiercer was one of the least subtle movies I'd seen in a long time. (Example: the intro, after audio and visuals talk about "healing" the atmosphere with coolant, we're shown a frozen wasteland. Visually stark, so the viewer knows it must have turned for the worst. But you don't get more than a second to think about this before a title card spells that out for you.) This video was nice to see. Happy to know there were some great subtleties that I missed.

.... There must be something I'm missing. Cause I found snow piercer laughably bad. A so bad its good movie. It just felt like it constantly put its foot in its mouth. Might be something about korean cinema that I am not getting.